Maguindanao IDPs harassed by BIFF now safe: Army

SAUDI AMPATUAN, Maguindanao — More than 90 percent of 700 families displaced by government offensives against the outlawed ISIS-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have returned home.

The internally displaced persons (IDPs) are now in their respective homes after the Army provided them security and transportation from public schools in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.

The IDPs, who have to endure both floods and armed hostilities, are now safe, according to Army Capt. John Encinas, spokesperson of the Army's 6th Infantry Division.

"We are preventing publicity by the BIFF, thus clashes erupted Thursday and Friday," he said.

Encinas said the ISIS-inspired BIFF tried, but failed, to raise the black flag in the towns of Shariff Saydona, Shariff Aguak, Mamasapano and Datu Salibo due to active government forces' reaction to residents' tip that armed men were massing in the four towns.

"We laud our village officials, they are doing great jobs," Encinas said.

Six BIFF fighters have been killed in the Maguindanao Army-led operation since the Marawi siege. One of them was believed to be an Indonesian jihadist.